Today’s Morning Buzz is brought to you by Alexander Fung, Economic Development Manager from the City of Eastvale, CA. Connect with Alexander on LinkedIn.
- What I’m reading: The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni
- What I’m watching: Yellowstone (TV Series)
- What I’m working on: Creating the 2026 Strategic Plan for the City’s Economic Development Team
Economic developers seeking to attract development, support local businesses, and deliver high-quality projects recognize that these efforts cannot operate in isolation. While economic development teams often lead the activities in business attraction and retention, their success can depend on strong collaboration with community development and public works departments. When these departments work together, cities create a development environment that is responsive, predictable, and positioned for long-term economic vitality.
Effective collaboration begins with a shared understanding of the development landscape. Economic development teams provide demographic data on market demand, trends, and fiscal impacts. Planners can offer the regulatory and land use frameworks that shape suitable projects in different parts of the community. Public works teams assess infrastructure capacity, capital project timing, and traffic constraints. When these perspectives are integrated, cities can better identify opportunities that are development-ready and avoid misalignment that leads to delays or lost revenue.
Structured coordination has become valuable as development timelines and regulations grow increasingly complex. Cities that institutionalize cross-departmental workflows, such as pre-development review meetings, coordinated due diligence packets, and shared infrastructure and planning maps, provide greater clarity to prospective investors. This level of organization allows feedback to be provided in a speedy manner and reduces costly surprises for applicants. The result is a smooth and predictable entitlement process and a stronger reputation for the community.
Additionally, collaboration strengthens a city’s ability to compete for major projects that generate a large amount of sales tax revenue. When all departments are aligned, economic development teams can confidently market sites knowing infrastructure limitations, planned upgrades, and policy objectives. Planners and public works departments can also gain a clearer view of which targeted industries or development uses the city is pursuing. Equally important is the internal culture that supports this coordination. Trust between departments encourages earlier problem identification, creative solutions, and shared commitment to delivering quality development.
In an increasingly competitive environment, collaboration is not an abstract principle, but a practical necessity. When economic development, planning, and public works operate as strategic partners, cities present a compelling message to investors, where businesses and development are both welcomed and well-managed.